Rowan walked forward with a fireball in each hand, breathing heavily, exhausted from running through the caverns, and devastated at having lost Rafael and Morgan, but they had made it in time. Lyn was still alive.

  Unfortunately, so was the rider. He crawled from under the hawk's corpse, bloodied and bruised from the fall, and looking angry. He wore handsome leather armor and had pale features. The flying disks returned and spun around the missionary. Using two disks as shields, he blocked every fireball Rowan threw at him while using the other two disks to attack. Rowan ducked and dodged as best they could, but his attacks were relentless and precise. Try as they might, Rowan couldn't keep up. More than once, a disk stopped midair, reversed direction, and cut Rowan, narrowly missing a vital area. They would surely have been cleaved into pieces were it not for Lyn.

  The young girl was hiding behind a fallen tree, but she still had her slingshot and the mana-filled crystal she had gathered in the crystal caverns. Lyn was shooting stones at the missionary, stones which burst into light. It wasn't enough to wound the missionary, but it was highly distracting.

  As Lyn's projectiles peppered his face and body, the missionary hopped onto one of his disks, and it carried him into the air, away from Rowan and Lyn's attacks. The other three disks spun around him defensively.

  Meanwhile, Sprigga had recovered their nutrients to the Great Oak and stepped out of the giant tree again. With Sprigga recovered, the battle was now three-on-one.

  Even with an airborne advantage, the missionary could only defend himself. The fight had turned, and it looked soon to be over. In a desperate act, the missionary changed tactics and flew toward Sprigga, who dodged accordingly, but he flew over Sprigga and instead sent all three available disks to see the Great Oak down the middle.

  Sprigga's scream was horrible and heartbreaking, collapsing to the ground. Rowan ran after him, throwing fireballs at a mad speed, but the missionary dodged and flew around the Oak. Meanwhile, the disks carved the Oak down, sawing off branches at rapid, sadistic speed while Sprigga screamed in agony. Rowan ran and threw fireballs in a vain attempt to stop the assault, but it was too late. In a matter of seconds, the Great Oak of Sanctuary was reduced to a large tree trunk. Sprigga was on the ground, life fading away, and it was all Rowan could do to reach them in time, to hold their hand as Sprigga's body again turned to dust, this time for the last time. Rowan yelled in anguish and rage, turning to face the floating missionary, still contending with Lyn's blinding projectiles.

  What neither the missionary nor Lyn knew was Rowan wasn't in their true firefox form. The anthropomorphic body they allowed certain humans to see was worn for comfort and convenience. Rowan's true self was fire, pure and wild. Rowan's people used to jump into rivers of lava and swim beneath the crust of Eden. The skin on Rowan's body began to melt and crackle away as flames erupted from within, slowly at first but growing in size and intensity. All the while, Rowan stared daggers at the missionary.

  The missionary, meanwhile, from his vantage in the air, didn't appear especially concerned until he threw two disks in Rowan's direction. By the time the disks hit Rowan, their physical body had already been reduced to ashes. Only flames remained, in the shape of a giant fox. The disks flew through the flames like leaves on the wind, dealing about as much damage. Once he saw that his weapons were useless against Rowan's true form, the smug confidence left his face. He sent the disks spinning through Rowan twice again, but the flames were only fanned.

  Rowan leapt into the air. An explosion erupted beneath their flaming paws, setting the surrounding area on fire. The missionary redirected all three shields to defend himself from the attack, but Rowan spun midair instead of attacking him head-on. Rowan's tails swiped from the side, ignoring the shields and passing through them. The missionary was burned instantly and severely. Agony distracted him, and he lost focus of his weapons. All four disks fell to the cave floor. The missionary also fell, in flames and screaming, until he struck his head on a stone and died instantly; his corpse still on fire.

  Rowan landed gracefully and returned to their anthropomorphic shape. Maintaining their true form demanded an immense amount of energy and left them exhausted after. On Inari, the volcano used to replenish a firefox's magic, so Rowan could maintain their true form indefinitely, but with Inari destroyed and the volcano now a steaming ruin under the ocean, Rowan had to rely on reserves of energy, and there wasn't much left.

  Rowan looked around and saw the entire Sanctuary was burning. Fireballs were damaging enough, but when Rowan's true firefox form was unleashed, much of the forest was set on fire. It was too late to do anything but flee now. Adam knew where they were, Sprigga was dead, and Lyn was in danger. Rowan ran to her. She was crying in fear, rocking and holding Apple's limp body. Rowan looked down at Apple with disgust and hatred and briefly considered throwing her into the fire. But Rowan was a soldier and had orders to follow. So Rowan picked up Apple and instructed Lyn to follow as they ran to a far corner of the cave.

  The flames were growing and expanding, and the sound of cracking wood became deafening as Rowan struggled to find an opening in the cave wall. Lyn tried to stop crying, but the flames were getting closer, and she was terrified. Finally, Rowan found the secret opening, something impossible to find if one didn't know to look for it. Rowan pushed hard against a thin crack in the cave wall and revealed a narrow passage. The three of them squeezed through quickly, and Rowan pushed the wall closed behind them, again trapping them in absolute darkness. This time, Lyn was the first to summon her magelight. A silvery, green, blue, red, and orange swirling orb lit their surroundings, a long, narrow passageway. The light was dim as a candle, but it was a marvel that Lyn still hadn't spent the entire crystal during the fight with the missionary.

  Lyn sniffled and wiped her tears with a determined frown, having found comfort in being useful. In the swirling candlelight, Rowan looked at Lyn with fresh eyes. She was a prodigious child. One day, she would make a formidable soldier in Rowan's shadow campaign. With Apple's unconscious body in one hand, Rowan led the way. They continued in silence for a long time until they finally reached what looked like a dead end. Once again, Rowan found a hidden crack and pushed it wide open.

  They stepped out into the clean ocean air for the first time in over a day. It was still the dark of night, but the moon shone brightly above them, illuminating everything with a pale, eerie light. Not far from where they emerged was a small wooden shack, seemingly built on the beach in the middle of nowhere for no obvious purpose, but Rowan knew its purpose, marched over to it, and ripped the door open with the strength and frustration of someone with nothing left to lose. Lyn followed meekly behind, still scared but now of Rowan's rage. It had been a traumatic few hours for the poor girl, and Apple was still unconscious.

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  Inside the wooden shack was a simple bed and emergency supplies. Against the wall opposite the door leaned a small canoe.

  'Come here,' Rowan signaled to Lyn with one hand, the other still holding Apple by the throat. Lyn stepped forward obediently, eyes never leaving Apple's unconscious body.

  'Will she be okay?' Lyn asked, on the verge of tears.

  Rowan's face took a cold and frightening expression. Their finger fell on the bed with intention and force.

  Lyn trembled but obeyed. 'Can I sleep with Apple?' she asked.

  Rowan hesitated for a brutal few seconds before answering, 'Of course,' and laid Apple next to Lyn in the bed. The girl put her arms around her monkey and tried to find solace.

  Then, just as they did to the guards outside Morgan's room, Rowan put their hand on Lyn's forehead and said, "Sleep."

  Lyn passed out immediately. Then Rowan ripped Apple out of Lyn's arms and carried her outside and to the ocean.

  The monkey was still unconscious. It will be easy, Rowan decided. A mercy killing.

  But as the waves brushed Rowan's ankles, they stopped to look at the stars.

  A moment passed before Rowan turned around and laid Apple gently on the sand. Then Rowan sparked a small fire and leaned over the monkey's head.

  Delicately, with sharp claws, Rowan pried the jewel from the monkey's forehead. It took some doing. Adam somehow grafted the stone directly into the bone and frontal brain.

  The stone came out with a cracking pop. Blood and clear seepage filled the space. Rowan sacrificed some of their quintessence to heal the hole in the monkey's forehead.

  After the stone was removed, the monkey was still breathing. A bright scar marked her forehead. The monkey would never speak or sign again. Perhaps she might carry some memories of her time as a familiar, but Apple was now simply a monkey. Rowan carried her back to the shack and laid her on a shelf where she might heal or die undisturbed.

  Lyn would never forgive Rowan for killing Apple. With a sad sigh, Rowan stepped outside the shack and locked the door. Rowan walked down the beach for nearly an hour. It was approaching dawn, but the moon was so big and bright in the sky it might have been noonday. The cliffside seemed to glow in the moonlight, juxtaposed with sharp, dark shadows carving out slices of inky blackness.

  The cool beach wind was crisp and bracing, as mist collected in Rowan's hair. Eventually, Rowan reached a modest beach house, one of the many secret homes that Rowan's people built on the Vulpen Islands long before the first human ships landed.

  The beach house was a cover. The real house was behind it, in the mountain stone itself. But Rowan had spent enough time in caves for one day. They only needed one object. Inside the modest cabin was a full-length mirror, set in wood and carved with intricate engravings.

  Rowan dragged the mirror out into the moonlight and sat next to it. Rowan held the familiar's jewel in their palm and then placed their hand on the mirror so the jewel and mirror were touching.

  Rowan closed their eyes to meditate. Lilith would be waiting.

  Traveling through a dreamscape, Rowan came to Lilith's hallway and the intricately detailed and graphic door to Lilith's astral chamber. Rowan knocked, and the door opened.

  In the center of a dark, gothic room stood Lilith, barefoot, statuesque, and haunting.

  Rowan ran to Lilith, who embraced them in excitement and sympathy.

  Lilith kissed Rowan tenderly on the forehead. "My darling, I'm so sorry for your loss. We will avenge them, I swear to you. Adam will pay for everything he's done. Tonight, I'll show you how we do it. Is everything ready?"

  "Yes. I'm at the beach house with the mirror. I'm using the familiar's jewel to fuel the bridge. Will you come to Eden?"

  Lilith shook her head sadly. "I'm bound to this place. I can't leave Nod. Not yet, at least."

  Rowan sighed softly. "Okay. Then I only need your mirror's location and we can begin."

  Lilith caressed Rowan's face gently and smiled. "I know, my darling. I want to feel you in my arms, too. Our day will come. That's my second promise to you tonight."

  Rowan nodded and tried to feel better despite a lingering misgiving. "I believe you," Rowan said, and maybe they even meant it.

  "Good," Lilith smiled and kissed Rowan again on the forehead.

  Rowan opened their eyes and knew where to find Lilith's mirror. The magic flowed out of them and into the mirror. The reflection shifted and came into focus. On the other side stood Lilith, precisely as she had appeared in Rowan's dreams. Next to Lilith was a tall, handsome man with grey skin, dark features, and long black hair tied into a braid.

  "Now," Rowan shouted.

  The dark man next to Lilith ran toward the mirror and leapt through it. After him came several monstrous flying creatures with large fangs and claws.

  As he and his beasties passed through the mirror, Rowan felt the jewel's mana drain. Familiars were supposedly connected to an infinite mana source, but it appeared the jewels themselves were finite. It crumbled to dust after the eighth beastie flew through, and the connection to Lilith's mirror was severed.

  Circling all around her, grotesque devils flew and screamed in vicious delight. The man stood nearby. He was smiling like a kid and jumping on the sand as if he'd never seen sand before. Then he ran toward the ocean to touch the water, but he was afraid of the waves, so he ran back laughing.

  "So this is Eden," he exclaimed with joyous awe. He wore simple black leather. His brown eyes shined like obsidian in the moonlight. He was beautiful and frightening, not unlike his mother, but he seemed so much softer, almost childlike.

  "Hello. I'm Rowan," they greeted him.

  "Yes, I know. Um… hello. I'm Samaal. It's good to meet you," he said with a shy smile. He wasn't at all what Rowan had expected.

  But before Rowan could reconcile their expectations with reality, a loud blast came from up the beach where Lyn was sleeping. Rowan sprinted toward the shack. Samaal followed, and so did the flying devils, but they arrived too late.

  The shack door had been blown open, and thick smoke filled the air and was carried away by the strong beach winds. Lyn was gone. Rowan screamed and panicked. They searched the area, and the devils searched from the skies, but the only clue they found was on the bed where Lyn had slept: a single black raven's feather.